Morgan was born in Warren and graduated high school in Rison. He played basketball for his first semester in college at Henderson, but then switched to football.

Morgan was able to pursue a pro football career when he was drafted by the Chicago Bears. He also had stops with the Miami Dolphins and the Texarkana Titans of the Continental Football League.

“Then I had to go back to work,” Morgan said.

Forrest City offered Morgan his first change to join the coaching ranks in Arkansas. He then returned to further his education at Henderson and coach at Arkadelphia. His next position landed him at Northeast High School in North Little Rock.

Morgan moved to Hot Springs to join the staff of the late coach, Joe Reese. Morgan served as an assistant coach under Reese for 10 years before Reese retired and became the athletic director.

Morgan took over as the head coach of Hot Springs from 1990 until he stepped down in 1996.

“I miss Friday night when you’re ahead 35-7 and the clock is winding down,” Morgan said. “I miss that. You have preparation all week, get the kids ready, the coaches and you go out there, put it all together and you win. I dislike Saturday morning at 7:30 and you got beat 38-36.”

Morgan says he did not realize the pressure of coaching until he stepped away from the game. He said he spent so much time coaching with preparation and games taking place so often during the week.

“Well, you put a lot more pressure on there than anyone else does because you want to do right, you want your kids to play right and you want everything to work,” Morgan said.

“I didn’t realize when I quit, and stepped back from it, how much time was spent and how much stress you can put on yourself.”

Morgan has served as the ALE director since 1996.

“I don’t have one regret when it comes to the coaching part,” Morgan said. “It was very fulfilling and rewarding.

“I have really enjoyed (his time at the Summit School), to tell you the truth. When you get up and come to work and not regret it, that is a great thing. Up here, I have a bunch of great employees that have helped me through the years. They have been very supportive. They like ALE. You don’t just wake up one day and get into ALE line in college. It is sort of thrust upon you. You sort of have to like it. You’ve got to fit these kids.”

Morgan’s wife, Amanda, also teaches at the Summit School. He said she will continue to teach for an undetermined amount of time. The couple raised three children together: Shane, Tyler and Allison.

Morgan said working at the Summit School has never been boring. He said there was always something to work on.

“I have no regrets,” Morgan said. “I think teaching is not for everybody, but teaching is rewarding. You have to take your rewards — especially here in ALE — in small bites. Success comes here, not in maybe graduation rate and not in total test scores, but in how you make a difference in a child’s life.”

Morgan said he plans to take it easy after he retires, especially for the first two months.

“I’m not going to pin myself down,” Morgan said. “I’ll end up doing something. I’m not a sit-at-home fiddler.”

Morgan and longtime friend, Vernon Brooks, are retiring on the same day. Brooks is retiring from his position as the Lake Hamilton High School principal. The two met each other when Morgan returned to Henderson.

“He and I go back to the 70s,” Brooks said. “We’ll get back into fishing. I’ll pick up fishing here. We’ll flip a coin and see who has to buy the boat.”

Morgan has not decided on anything specific to do once he retires, but he vows to find some activities to spend his time.

“You walk into some store and go, ‘Coach, what are you doing here?’ I don’t know — something to do. I may be selling hamburgers or fishing rods. I don’t know. I’ll do something to occupy my day,” Morgan said.